Department for Transport

Railways: Research

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the importance of rail research and development to the UK rail industry.

Joseph Johnson: The Government places high importance on research and development in the rail industry, and actively supports this through grant payments to Network Rail, the RSSB and to Innovate UK. The rail industry is currently in discussion with the Office of Rail and Road about funding to support rail research and development in the period 2019-24, as part of the £47.9 billion funding settlement announced by Government in October 2017. To realise its full benefits, research and development must be well planned, efficient and deliverable.

Railways: North of England

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress is being made on plans for electrification of the trans-pennine railway line.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 16 July 2018



The government is investing nearly £3bn between 2019 and 2024 in this upgrade, one third of our expected investment in rail enhancements between 2019 and 2024. It will be a rolling programme of enhancements including both major civil engineering and electrification. And we are working with Network Rail and Transport for the North to determine the best way to achieve major improvements for passengers. We will make further decisions later this year.

Railways: Compensation

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of requiring all future rail operator contracts to include compensation schemes for delays of 15 minutes and longer.

Joseph Johnson: Delay Repay 15 (DR15) is a major improvement for passengers seeking compensation for delays and cancellations to their train services. It entitles passengers to claim compensation for delays of 15 minutes of more on all ticket types and regardless of the cause of disruption to their rail journeys. It is Government policy that DR15 is rolled out across the rail network as Franchises come up for renewal, and four franchises (GTR, Southwestern Railway, West Midlands Trains and c2c) currently operate the scheme. The Department for Transport is also considering introducing DR15 during the life of existing Franchises if the Department can establish that the proposals from the Train Operating Companies are affordable and represent value for money for taxpayers.

Railways: Bicycles

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to expand the provision of secure bicycle space on rail services to and from York.

Joseph Johnson: Reaching a balance between providing bicycle space in carriages and catering for the ever increasing numbers of passengers who want to travel by train, and would like to have a seat, is at the discretion of the train operating companies who are best placed to understand and manage local need. New Azuma trains which are due to enter into service from December 2018 will include spaces for bicycles which passengers will be able to reserve.

Community Transport: Older People

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's consultation on the use of section 19 and section 22 permits for road passenger transport in Great Britain, published on 8 February 2018, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new guidance for community transport operators does not lead to the closure of transport schemes for older people.

Jesse Norman: Departmental officials are analysing responses to the Government’s consultation on the use of section 19 and section 22 permits for road passenger transport in Great Britain. This includes considering the responses received from community transport operators that provide services for older people. The Government’s response will be published in due course.

East Midlands Rail Franchise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to delay the East Midlands rail franchise process as a result of the decision not to introduce the December 2018 timetable.

Joseph Johnson: The competition process for the next East Midlands franchise remains on course. Shortlisted bidders have until September 2018 to prepare their bids. The next operator is scheduled to be announced in Spring 2019 and in place to start operating services from August 2019.

Driving Tests

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the withdrawal of foreign language voice-overs and interpreters for candidates taking car and motorcycle theory tests on (a) the number of applicants and (b) the pass rate.

Jesse Norman: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) withdrew the facility for driving test candidates to use foreign language voiceovers during theory tests and interpreters during theory and practical tests on 7 April 2014. The DVSA monitor applications and the overall pass rates for car and motorbike theory tests and has not seen any discernible effect of the withdrawal of foreign language voice-overs and interpreters.

Driving Tests

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of unlicensed drivers on UK roads of the withdrawal of foreign language voiceovers and interpreters for candidates taking the UK car and motorcycle theory tests since April 2014.

Jesse Norman: The then-Driving Standards Agency (now Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) undertook a full consultation between 5 February and 2 April 2013 before withdrawing voiceover and interpreter facilities for driving test candidates whose first language was not English. The DVSA supports candidates whose English is a second language, or those who have difficulty understanding written English, by offering an English language voice over and writing the multiple-choice theory test questions in an easily understood way. The DVSA has no evidence to suggest there is a need to make an assessment of the effect on the level of unlicensed drivers since the withdrawal of foreign language voiceovers and interpreters during the theory test on 7 April 2014.

Driving Tests

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the reintroduction of foreign language voiceovers and interpreters for candidates taking the UK car and motorcycle theory tests.

Jesse Norman: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency withdrew the facility for driving test candidates to use foreign language voiceovers during theory tests and interpreters during theory and practical tests on 7 April 2014 following a full public consultation. Some of the reasons for this change were included to address concerns about road safety, specifically the ability of non-English or non-Welsh speakers to understand road signs and other information provided to drivers in the course of their journeys; and to reduce fraud, addressing the problem of an interpreter attending for test with a learner driver and communicating advice beyond a strict translation of the theory test questions or the instructions given by the examiner. The department has no plans to assess the reintroduction of translation services for non-English speaking candidates taking car and motorcycle theory driving tests.

Department for Education

Pupils: Sanitary Protection

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of school days missed by girls as a result of period poverty.

Nadhim Zahawi: We have sought to establish whether there has been any rigorous national assessment of the prevalence of period poverty or its impact on attendance, however none appears to be available. We have produced additional analysis of our absence statistics to look for evidence of period poverty. Our analysis, published in March 2018, shows that while absence rates amongst girls do increase after a certain age, there is no evidence to suggest that this is related to pupils being disadvantaged. This suggests period poverty does not have a significant, nation-wide impact on attendance. We do want to find out more which is why we have placed questions on these issues in the department’s 2018 surveys for pupils and senior school leaders. We have made it a priority to reduce overall pupil absence and there has been some notable success in this area, with overall yearly absence rates decreasing from 6.5% of possible sessions missed in 2006/07 to 4.7% in 2016/17.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding per pupil has been allocated to schools in Suffolk in each year since 2009.

Nick Gibb: The revenue funding allocated for primary and secondary education for each financial year from 2009 to 2018 for Suffolk local authority can be found in the attached table.Revenue amounts allocated for primary and secondary education for each financial year from 2009 to 2018 for Suffolk Local Authority (LA). Funding for Schools 2009-18 £ millions   Financial YearSuffolk LA 2009-102420.9 2010-113444.4 2011-12448.2 2012-13457.6 2013-14483.2 2014-15497.0 2015-16514.8 2016-17518.6 2017-184529.2 [1] There have been various changes to the way revenue funding has operated over this period, though essentially the above figures cover local government finance settlement for schools, the dedicated schools grant and other revenue grants.[2] For 2009, primary and secondary pupil numbers in each local authority in England can be found in table 10a of the local authority tables for each year at:http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120505163205/http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000843/index.shtml.[3] For 2010-17, primary and secondary pupil numbers in each local authority in England can be found in the local authority tables for each year at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers[4] Data for 2017 to 2018 and onwards will be added to the webpage in due course.

Arts and Design: GCE A-level

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of students that studied art and design at A level were eligible for free school meals in each year since 2012.

Nadhim Zahawi: The total number and percentage of students entering each subject in each year is provided in the attached tables, as well as the percentage of entrants into each subject who were eligible for free school meals.[1][1] For 2010/11 – 2015/16 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-level-attainment-by-pupil-characteristics. For 2016/17 - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/a-level-and-other-16-to-18-results-2016-to-2017-revised. (open the ‘A level exam results and A level and vocational participation csv’ and then the ‘A level subjects by characteristics’ file).



162490_Data_Tables_Art_&_Design_FSM_Pupils
(PDF Document, 249.93 KB)

Education: North of England

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of  11 June 2018 to Question 140739 on Education: North of England, how much and what proportion of the funding came from the Northern Powerhouse Education Fund.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the process for bids to the Northern Powerhouse Education Fund (a) opened and (b) closed; what the remit of the Northern Powerhouse Education Fund is; what the bidding process was for that Fund; how many applications to that Fund were received; and which of those applications were successful.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 16 July 2018



As part of the 2016 Northern Powerhouse Schools Strategy, the government committed £70 million to support educational improvement in the north, up to the end of March 2020. Since that announcement, the government has spent or committed significantly more than £70 million to support educational improvement in the north. This includes spending in key areas identified in Sir Nick Weller’s report, including measures in the north to improve teaching and leadership capacity; recruit and retain teachers; and close the disadvantage gap. In 2017, nearly 400,000 more children were in good or outstanding schools in the north compared to 2010. As detailed in the response to Question 140739, funding was distributed in a number of ways. A series of bidding rounds were conducted for the Strategy School Improvement Fund and the Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund. The northern elements of these and other national funds and iniatives were set out in the earlier answer, and details of the application process and the dates of the bidding rounds for those funds were detailed on GOV.UK at the following links:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-school-improvement-fund.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-and-leadership-innovation-fund. In other cases, we either allocated funding directly to new initiatives for the north of England; or allocated additional funding to existing initiatives, to boost their impact in the north.

Financial Services: Education

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure schools are equipped to teach fraud prevention skills.

Nick Gibb: Schools can teach pupils about fraud prevention and online safety through personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). The PSHE Association's non-statutory programme of study, which references to online safety, is here: https://www.pshe-association.org.uk/curriculum-and-resources/resources/programme-study-pshe-education-key-stages-1%E2%80%935. The Children and Social Work Act 2017 grants power to the Secretary of State for Education to make PSHE, or elements therein, mandatory in all schools. Teaching about online safety will be considered as part of this process. The Department is intending to launch a consultation on the draft regulations and statutory guidance shortly, and will say more about the implementation timetable at that point. Financial matters are also taught through citizenship studies. The subject is designed to provide the skill to help young people understand how to manage their money well and make sound financial decisions. For example in Key Stage 3, pupils are taught the functions and uses of money, the importance and practice of budgeting, and managing risk; and at Key Stage 4, they are taught income and expenditure, credit and debt, insurance, savings and pensions, financial products and services, and how public money is raised and spent. The issue of fraud is taught at various levels, and pupils gain the knowledge of identifying and managing the risks. The full programme for study can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-citizenship-programmes-of-study.

Social Mobility Commission: Public Appointments

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what dates the original application process opened and closed for the Chair of the Social Mobility Commission; how many people applied for that position before the closure of the original application process; whether the application process was then extended; how many people applied for that position after any such extension; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 16 July 2018



The application process to recruit a Chair of the Social Mobility Commission opened on 5 February 2018 with an original closing date of 25 February 2018. The closing date was subsequently extended to 30 March 2018 to ensure applications from a strong field of candidates. Six applications for the role were received before the closure of the original application process and fifteen were received after the extension to the deadline was made. The process to appoint a Chair of the Social Mobility Commission was run in accordance of advice from the Cabinet Office and the Department for Education’s Public Appointments team, and fully in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Schools: Governing Bodies

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing mandatory training on special educational needs and disability for school governors.

Nadhim Zahawi: The department publishes the Governance Handbook and competency frameworks, which provide guidance on the roles and duties of governing boards, and advice on the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to be effective.The specific duties in relation to special educational needs and disability (SEND) are set out in the Governance Handbook. Every governing board should have an individual with specific oversight of their school’s arrangements for SEND.Our guidance stresses the importance of training, but makes clear it is boards that know best what training their members need. It is right that we focus on holding boards to account for the outcome of their effectiveness.We do not believe that it is for government to mandate or prescribe training.The department does fund development programmes for governance leaders and clerks, and has recently announced an additional £3 million for governance training over the next three years.

Special Educational Needs: Dyslexia

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of specialist teachers on the progress of dyslexic learners; if he will undertake a review of the provision of dyslexia specialists in England; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: Schools have a statutory duty to support all pupils who have special educational needs or a disability (SEND), including those with dyslexia. They should apply the graduated approach to support that is set out for schools in the SEND Code of Practice, paragraphs 6.36 to 6.56 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25) – assessing a child’s needs, planning and implementing appropriate support, and reviewing it regularly to ensure it continues to meet the child’s needs. The effectiveness of any interventions provided should therefore be reviewed by the school as part of this graduated approach. The framework of content for Initial Teacher Training also requires training providers to include modules on specific types of SEND, including dyslexia, to ensure that all new teachers understand the needs of such pupils and are well equipped to support them. The availability of dyslexia support should be included in the Local Offer of services for children and young people with SEND. Where gaps in provision are identified, education partners should work together to ensure that the Local Offer responds to requirements. From April 2016 to March 2018, the department funded the British Dyslexia Association to deliver training to teachers ‎to support early identification of learning difficulties, including dyslexia. Resources created under this funding are available, free of charge, on the SEND gateway. The department also has a contract with Nasen and University College London, on behalf of the Whole School SEND consortium, worth £3.4 million over two years to support schools to deliver high quality SEND provision.

Special Educational Needs: Dyslexia

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Centre of Excellence for Literacy Teaching provides support for learners with dyslexia and other literacy needs.

Nick Gibb: The Department is currently in the process of selecting English Hubs, which will share effective practice with a particular focus on language and literacy teaching in reception and Key Stage 1. One of the programme’s key aims and objectives is to develop and promote effective, evidence-based teaching practice in all aspects of early literacy for all children, including systematic synthetic phonics. Good phonics teaching, as highlighted by England’s highest ever results in the 2016 PIRLS study, provides an excellent foundation for reading: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pirls-2016-reading-literacy-performance-in-england. There is also evidence that structured, systematic synthetic phonics teaching, in addition to engaging with reading books, can also help pupils in reception and Key Stage 1 with dyslexia to read well. The reformed National Curriculum and the Phonics Screening Check, encourage teachers to use this method and since the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check in 2012, 154,000 more six-year-olds on track to become fluent readers.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Energy Supply: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment has been made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on fuel security in power stations in Northern Ireland.

Claire Perry: Fuel security in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter and the Department for the Economy is the lead Northern Ireland Department for energy matters.

Natural Gas: Storage

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the implications are for his policy on energy security of the decision in March 2018 not to return to operation the Hole House gas storage facility; and what recent assessment he has made of the level of UK energy security.

Claire Perry: The decision to close the Hole House gas storage facility for the foreseeable future is a commercial decision for EDF Energy. This withdrawal from commercial operations does not undermine security of supply: in 2017, the Government published its Gas Security of Supply Strategic Assessment which concluded that Great Britain benefits from highly diverse and flexible sources of supply, including domestic production, pipelines from Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium, storage and LNG. This analysis shows that GB supply and storage infrastructure is sufficient to meet customer demand in all but the most extreme and unlikely cases. The announced withdrawal from operation of Hole House Farm, the UK’s smallest storage facility, does not materially affect this assessment. We continually engage with EDF Energy and other stakeholders to ensure that this analysis remains up-to-date.

Carbon Capture and Storage: Scotland

David Duguid: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the Scottish economy of developing carbon capture and storage infrastructure in the north east of Scotland.

Claire Perry: The Government welcomes the development of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) proposals from across the UK. We are investing in supporting the technology and have invested over £365 million in CCUS since 2011. This includes supporting a potential CCUS project in the North East of Scotland, where Government has allocated £1.3 million in funding to Project Acorn in St. Fergus, Aberdeenshire, through the Accelerating Carbon Technologies Research Programme. In addition, the UK Government jointly funded, with the Scottish Government, the now completed feasibility work on the proposed Caledonia Clean Energy Project in Grangemouth, Scotland.

Energy: Environment Protection

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2018 to Question 155725 on Energy: Environment Protection, whether he plans to publish a Clean Energy Sector Deal in (a) 3 months, (b) 6 months, (c) 9 months, (d) 12 months.

Claire Perry: Pursuant to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 27th June 2018 to Question 155725, there is no timetable for sector deals.

Conditions of Employment: Public Consultation

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to publish its response to the recent consultation on employment status, which closed on 1 June 2018.

Richard Harrington: The Government is committed to providing clarity for businesses and individuals on employment status. As Matthew Taylor identified in his review, this is a complex issue and is one of the major challenges for public policy. We therefore need to take time to consider how best to achieve change that works for all. We are currently analysing the responses submitted to the Employment Status Consultation and will respond shortly.

Service Industries: Pay

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the number of workers in the (a) hospitality and (b) retail sectors who are paid less than the (i) national living wage and (ii) national minimum wage as a result of being required to work beyond the end of their shift.

Richard Harrington: The ‘Low Pay Commission: Non-Compliance and Enforcement of the National Minimum Wage’ report identified that, in total, there were 44,000 workers in the retail sector and 46,600 workers in the hospitality sector who were underpaid the National Living Wage in 2016. However, we are unable to provide a breakdown of these totals according to the cause of the underpayment. The Government is committed to ensuring that workers are paid fairly. HMRC’s National Minimum Wage enforcement budget has doubled since 2015-16; rising to £26.3 million for 2018-19. Last year, HMRC identified £15.6 million in arrears of wages owed to over 200,000 workers; the largest amount of money recovered for the highest number of workers since the National Minimum Wage came in to force. HMRC investigate where they believe an employer is not paying the minimum wage, which includes following up every worker complaint they receive. Any worker who is concerned about being underpaid should contact the ACAS helpline (on 0300 123 1100) for free and confidential advice, and to make a complaint

Unpaid Work

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department has been made on producing guidance for people who have undertaken unpaid work trials.

Richard Harrington: In June, my hon. Friend the then Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility met employers and trade unions to discuss a draft of new guidance on the application of National Minimum Wage to work trials. The Government will bring forward new measures as a result of that meeting shortly.

Work Experience: Pay

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Government’s response to the Taylor Review, published on 7 February 2018, when he plans to update public guidance for employers and workers on the rules for paying interns.

Richard Harrington: The Department will shortly update guidance available on www.gov.uk concerning the rules over when interns should be paid the National Minimum Wage. Alongside this work, BEIS ministers will meet with employers and business advisers after the summer recess to underline the Government’s intention to eliminate exploitative unpaid internships.

Fracking

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take account of the Royal Society's update of its report of June 2012 on shale gas extraction before continuing his plans to extract such gas.

Claire Perry: The Government has always been clear that shale gas development must be safe and environmentally sound. We are committed to ensuring a rigorous, evidence-based approach to shale gas extraction, and as such I welcome any new research that can further enhance our understanding and help inform our policy development.

Galileo System

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Environment and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Defence Procurement of 9 July 2018, on Leaving the EU: Defence and Military Aerospace Industry, Official Report, column 694, how many civil servants are part of the cross-departmental group; and from which departments those civil servants are drawn.

Mr Sam Gyimah: A cross-Departmental steering group has been established to oversee the work to develop options for a UK GNSS. The steering group comprises 11 officials from the UK Space Agency, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

Electricity Generation

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has made to Ofgem regarding its Targeted Charging Review and the effect of that review on (a) the steel sector and (b) energy intensive industries in the UK.

Claire Perry: Network charging is a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator, and decisions on the outcome of the Targeted Charging Review are for it to make. However, Government is working to understand the policy implications of any review proposals across a broad range of interests, including the steel sector and energy intensive industries. Ofgem has not yet decided on any option, and plans to consult on a proposed approach later this year. It is continuing to undertake widescale stakeholder engagement, and we are encouraging all interested parties to engage with Ofgem to ensure their perspectives and evidence can be taken into account.

Green Deal Scheme

Ged Killen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February to Question 128285 on Green Deal Scheme, what progress the Government has made on improving and revitalising the Green Deal; what progress his Department has made on considering the results from the call for Evidence on the Green Deal Framework; and what the timetable is for consultations on potential reforms to the Green Deal.

Claire Perry: We began a fundamental review of the Green Deal Framework by publishing a Call for Evidence in October 2017. The Department has reviewed responses to the Call for Evidence and we plan to publish a summary of responses shortly. We will then consider the next steps for the review of the Framework, including the timetable for when we would consult on more significant proposals.

Industrial Disputes: Ballots

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to his Answer of 01 March 2018 to Question 129214 on Industrial Disputes: Ballots, what progress his Department has made since providing that answer.

Richard Harrington: Sir Ken Knight met the Minister for Small Business on 23 May 2018 and presented the findings from his report. The next steps, before the Government responds, will include a roundtable meeting involving relevant organisations and professionals from expert associations to seek their advice and recommendations.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

British Indian Ocean Territory: Ilois

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will deposit in the National Archives the Registers of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the Chagos Archipelago between 1884 and 1971.

Sir Alan Duncan: Holding answer received on 16 July 2018



A collection of registers of Birth, Deaths and Marriages for the Chagos Archipelago between 1884 and 1971 is currently held in the FCO Archives. We will consider what future actions may be most suitable for these registers as part of our ongoing programme of records appraisal. This will include consideration of the status of the registers and where they will ultimately be deposited.

Cameroon: Human Rights

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will help secure access to British Southern Cameroons territory for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Harriett Baldwin: I met the Cameroonian Commonwealth Minister Mbayu and the then Foreign Secretary met Prime Minister Yang at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April. We both pressed for action to resolve the ongoing dispute in the Anglophone regions and for adherence to core Commonwealth values and principles, including tolerance, respect and understanding.The UK ensured that the European Union Statement at the Human Rights Council meeting, in Geneva in June, included a call for access to the Anglophone regions of Cameroon for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR). We also welcomed the statement by the UNHCHR, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, at that meeting, in which he called for the Cameroonian authorities swiftly to approve a mission by his Office to all parts of the country. We will continue to work with international partners and through Ministerial engagement and our High Commission in Yaoundé to urge the Cameroonians to allow UNHCHR unhindered access.

Bangladesh: Violence

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to monitor reports of state-sponsored violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Mark Field: ​The British Government is monitoring the human rights situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) through discussions with NGOs, with local residents and leaders, as well as through monitoring reports by credible international development and human rights organisations. Officials in London met the MP for Rangmati Hill District, Ushatan Talukder, last year to discuss the situation on the ground. British High Commission officials visited the CHT to see conditions first-hand in April, and subsequently briefed the APPG on Human Rights regarding the situation there.At the 30th Session of the Human Rights Universal Periodic Review on 21 May, the Minister responsible for Human Rights, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, noted the pressures on freedom of expression and assembly in the CHT in his closing statement, and called on the Government of Bangladesh to address these issues. I condemn all violence in the CHT and I encourage the Government of Bangladesh to investigate allegations of abuses and hold perpetrators to account.

Hassan Mushaima

Karen Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations have been made to the Government of Bahrain on the denial of access to adequate medical treatment of imprisoned Bahraini political leader Hassan Mushaima.

Alistair Burt: We have raised the case of Hasan Mushaima at a senior level. The UK encourages those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the relevant human rights oversight bodies. We urge those bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations. The UK continues to encourage the Government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments.

USA: State Visits

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost to the public purse was of the visit to the UK of the President of the United States.

Sir Alan Duncan: The visit by the President was a Guest of Government visit. As with all visits of this nature, the costs will be made publicly available and will be published on the gov.uk website in due course.

USA: State Visits

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the reception for the President of the United States at Blenheim Palace on 12 July 2018.

Sir Alan Duncan: The visit by the President was a Guest of Government visit. As with all visits of this nature, the costs will be made publicly available and will be published on the gov.uk website in due course. This will include the costs of the reception for the President at Blenheim Palace.​

Department for Exiting the European Union

UK Trade with EU: Service Industries

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the service sector has tariff-free access to the Single Market after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: Services, unlike goods, are not subject to tariffs and, unlike the vast majority of manufactured goods and agricultural products, most services are not subject to specific product standards. Our position is that we will be leaving the Single Market, including in services. But that does not change our ambition to ensure UK and EU service providers continue to benefit from cross-border trade after leaving the European Union. To this end, the Government’s White Paper sets out our vision for a deep and comprehensive deal for the services industry with the European Union – including detailed proposals on digital, financial, professional and business, and other services. Our approach is based on the principles of international trade and the precedents of existing EU trade agreements. It minimises new barriers to service provision, allowing UK firms to establish in the EU, and provides for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. We accept that leaving the Single Market will have implications for market access and that some UK and EU service suppliers will not enjoy the same rights as they do today. However, leaving the European Union will give us regulatory flexibility where it matters most, for the UK’s services-based economy, and where the potential trading opportunities outside the EU are the largest. This proposal represents the best, credible proposal for the future relationship that meets all of the Government's objectives and the EU's red lines.

Brexit: White Papers

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, at what time on 12 July 2018 his Department released the White Paper, The future relationship between the UK and the EU, Cm 9593 to (a) the media (b) parliamentarians (c) Select Committee Chairs (f) the public.

Mr Robin Walker: The White Paper on the Future Relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union was published on the GOV.UK website and shared in a letter to the Chairs of the Exiting the European Union, the European Scrutiny and the Lords European Union committees at the moment the Secretary of State stood up to make his statement. Copies of the White Paper were put in the libraries of both Houses at 0930 on 12 July but due to an administrative error, the White Paper was not distributed to Members ahead of the debate. There was no intent on the Government’s part to withhold information from the House and the Secretary of State has apologised for this oversight.

Department of Health and Social Care

Breast Feeding and Diabetes

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the NHS provides guidance to new Mothers on potential links between breast feeding and diabetes.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The main risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes is being overweight or obese. Breastfeeding is associated with greater postpartum weight loss and lower body mass index in the longer term for the mother. For infants, not being breastfed may also be associated with a greater risk of overweight or obesity later in childhood. Women are advised to breastfeed exclusively for around the first six months of an infant’s life and to continue breastfeeding for at least the first year of life. Each makes an important contribution to infant and maternal health. The Government continues to promote the importance of breastfeeding through various channels, such as the Start4Life campaign, the NHS Choices website (which has a dedicated Pregnancy and Baby guide) and the NHS Information Service for Parents; further information is available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/benefits-breastfeeding/

Blood: Donors

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with (a) the Royal College of Nursing and (b) patients with blood group O on potential supply problems of blood group O.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department has not had discussions with the Royal College of Nursing or patients with blood group O on the supply of O negative blood to National Health Service hospitals. Some blood groups, such as O negative (the universal blood group), A negative and B negative are particularly vulnerable to shortfalls. NHS Blood and Transplant want people with these blood groups to donate as regularly as they can. There is also a need for more black African, black Caribbean, mixed race and South Asian people to become blood donors to reflect the ethnic diversity of patients. There is a current media push by NHS Blood and Transplant asking donors to make and keep appointments during the football and hot weather, especially if they are part of the O negative blood group. However, there is no shortage of blood and NHS Blood and Transplant has continued to meet hospitals’ requirements.

NHS Trusts: North West

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Chairs of NHS Trusts in the North West have previously been Chairs of other NHS trusts; and if he will list those Chairs.

Stephen Barclay: This is a matter for NHS Improvement. The information requested is not a standard data set and is not information that NHS Improvement holds. Given this, NHS Improvement is undertaking a data collection exercise which has required them to ask questions of NHS trust chairs in the North West directly.

NHS: Data Protection

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the costs incurred to the NHS from third-parties making subject access requests under General Data Protection Regulation instead of using the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988.

Jackie Doyle-Price: No such assessment has been made. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is not the correct route for such requests. The right of access under GDPR confers more personal information than is needed or is justified for insurance underwriting. Accordingly, insurance companies should instead use the established mechanism of the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988 (AMRA) to obtain summary medical reports from general practitioner (GPs). The AMRA allows the GP to charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of copying the report.

Hospitals: Harlow

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients from Hemel Hempstead that he expects to use the new hospital in Harlow Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Barclay: The Government has made no estimate of the number of patients from Hemel Hempstead that it expects to use the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

Prisons: Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many officials from his Department work exclusively on prison healthcare.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many officials from his Department have made visits to prisons in the last 12 months.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Minister of his Department is responsible for prison healthcare, and how many times that Minister has visited prisons in the last 12 months.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 17 July 2018



The mental health policy team in the Department works flexibly across a wide range of policy priorities, including healthcare for offenders in prison and in the community. Additionally, there are a range of other teams within the Department whose policy responsibilities have implications for prison healthcare. It is therefore not possible to say how many officials work exclusively on prison healthcare.Information on how many Departmental officials have made visits to prisons in the last 12 months can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.I have Ministerial responsibility for offender healthcare, which includes healthcare in prisons and secure hospitals. I am planning to complete my round of visits to all high secure hospitals in England shortly with a visit to Rampton Secure Hospital, having already visited Broadmoor and Ashworth Secure Hospitals. Effective treatment in the community is an important means of reducing offending and reoffending behaviour, I therefore also have plans to visit a women’s centre and liaison and diversion services, as well as a prison, in the near future.

Postnatal Depression

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has met the National Childbirth Trust to discuss the conclusions and recommendations of that organisation's report, Hidden Half: bringing postnatal mental illness out of hiding.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not met with the National Childbirth Trust. The Department is aware of the National Childbirth Trust’s ‘Hidden Half’ Campaign. We are grateful to the National Childbirth Trust for their campaigning on this important issue. This Government is committed to improving perinatal mental health services for women during pregnancy and in the first postnatal year, so that women are able to access the right care at the right time and close to home. The Department is investing £365 million from 2015/16 to 2020/21 in perinatal mental health services, and NHS England is leading a transformation programme to ensure that by 2020/21 at least 30,000 more women each year are able to access evidence-based specialist mental health care during the perinatal period.

Postnatal Care

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the adequacy of funding for postnatal checks for new mothers in the General Medical Services contract.

Steve Brine: The General Medical Services (GMS) contract requires all practices to provide postnatal checks to new mothers. The funding for these checks is included in the overall reimbursement paid to practices. The general practitioner (GP) contract regulations define the postnatal period as “the period beginning with the conclusion of the delivery of the baby or the patient’s discharge from secondary care services (whichever is the later) and ending on the fourteenth day after the birth”. While all GMS practices are required to provide maternity medical services, some may exceptionally choose to opt out of providing such services e.g. on workload grounds. Where practices do opt out, it is the responsibility of NHS England to ensure the patients of those practices have access these services e.g. commissioning the service from a nearby alternative practice.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Females

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what consultation the Government plans to hold with the private sector to measure progress on Sustainable Development Goal 5: achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, for the Voluntary National Review at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development  in 2019.

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what consultation the Government plans to hold with local authorities to measure progress on Sustainable Development Goal 5: achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, for the Voluntary National Review at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2019.

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to consult the devolved governments on measurement of their progress on Sustainable Development Goal 5 for the Voluntary National Review in 2019; and if she will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Work on developing the UK’s 2019 Voluntary National Review is ongoing, and we will consult with a wide range of key stakeholders as we finalise our plans.We will launch an online consultation to ensure we capture a wide range of views and inputs, and will be drawing on a range of sources to collect data and information, including:the UN’s global indicator framework for measuring global progress towards the SDGs;the UK’s Office for National Statistics’ National Reporting Platform on UK data for the SDGs;Single Departmental Plans in which government departments have embedded the SDGs; anddepartmental Annual Reports and Accounts in which departments are expected to report progress towards the SDGs.

Prime Minister

Attorney General: Members' Interests

Helen Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister, when she plans to publish the declaration of interest of the new Attorney General.

Mrs Theresa May: On appointment to each new office, Ministers provide a list of all relevant interests to their Permanent Secretary, which are considered by the Cabinet Office, and the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests. The next list of Ministers' relevant interests will be published in due course.

USA: Official Visits

Catherine West: To ask the Prime Minister, how many pieces of correspondence she has received from members of the public raising concerns over the working visit of President Trump.

Mrs Theresa May: My Office receives many thousands of items of correspondence each week, covering a very wide range of issues.

Ministry of Justice

Sentencing: Reoffenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2018 to Question 158713 on Prison Sentences, how his Department measures the effectiveness of community sentences compared with prison sentences in terms of preventing reoffending.

Rory Stewart: The effectiveness of community sentences compared to prison sentences has been measured by comparing the reoffending outcomes of offenders receiving prison sentences with those of similar offenders who received community sentences. The similarity of offenders is based on available offender demographics, criminal history, risk assessment and management data, and tax and benefit data. More details are provided in chapter 3 of the Ministry of Justice study ‘The impact of short custodial sentences, community orders and suspended sentence orders on re-offending’ published in 2015: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399389/impact-of-short-custodial-sentences-on-reoffending.PDF The study used propensity score matching (PSM) to create a counter-factual group, which enabled the outcomes of offenders receiving particular requirements to be compared to outcomes of similar (matched) offenders who did not receive them, and therefore the effect of the requirements to be estimated. PSM aims to account for all sources of variation between the treatment and control group except for the intervention itself, meaning that any differences in their outcomes should be the result of the intervention.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Labour Turnover

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to engage with staff unions to reduce staff turnover in HMCTS; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar: HMCTS has a well-developed engagement framework in place which ensures national and regional issues are consulted on at an appropriate level with our trade unions. Part of this incorporates a monthly People Impact Forum which is facilitated through our Employee Relations and People and Cultural Transition teams, wherein matters including staffing are discussed with Departmental Trade Union Side (DTUS) colleagues. HMCTS HR also has a national Business Facing HR BP team who work directly with Regional Senior Management and Business Support Units to identify issues and maximise employee retention.

Family Law

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many family legal help starts by type of family law there were in each quarter since the first quarter of 2012.

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many family mediation starts there have been since January 2012.

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) women, (b) men  and (c) people of BAME background were in receipt of civil legal aid in each year since 2012.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice publishes the information you have enquired about as part of the Legal Aid Agency’s National Statistics. These can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/legal-aid-statistics Information on matter starts in the family category, as well as a breakdown by type of family law for claims subsequently submitted, is included within part 5 of the aforesaid statistical tables. A breakdown by type of family law is not available for volumes of matters started as this is captured when a case concludes.Information on the number of family mediation matters started is included within part 7 of the LAA’s statistical tables.Information on client ethnicity, disability status, gender and age is included in the Diversity data package, published annually by the MoJ for the LAA. A summary of the specific data you have enquired about is annexed.

Prisons: Sexual Offences

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the level of under-reporting of sexual assault in prison.

Rory Stewart: Data on reported sexual assaults are published annually in the safety in custody statistics, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics. We acknowledge that prisoners may be reluctant to report such assaults, and are aware that some other sources, such as surveys by HM Inspector of Prisons, have shown a higher rate.We take any allegation of sexual assault extremely seriously. All incidents that are reported as sexual assault are referred to the police for investigation. We provide a range of support to those who report them and take appropriate action to prevent repeat victimisation.

Ministry of Justice: Buildings

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2018 to Question 157090, on Ministry of Justice: buildings, how many days each Minister of his Department has spent in Petty France between 11 April and 11 May 2018.

Edward Argar: Between 11 April and 11 May Dr Phillip Lee MP spent 10 days in the Ministry of Justice; David Gauke MP 14 days; Lucy Frazer MP 15 days and Rory Stewart MP 6 days. Lord Keen has a dual role as Advocate General for Scotland and MoJ spokesperson in the House of Lords, as such, he spent 4 days in the department on Ministry of Justice business. All ministers are required to split their departmental time between 102 Petty France and other locations such as the House of Commons / Lords. The information provided is for days spent in 102 Petty France only.

Offenders: Females

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Female Offender Strategy for England will incur Barnett consequentials for Wales.

Edward Argar: The female offender strategy applies across England and Wales. We do not believe that there will be any Barnett consequentials, however we will keep funding under review as this work progresses. We will continue to work with the Welsh Government and other partners to ensure justice services are delivered in a way that reflects the Welsh landscape to improve outcomes for female offenders.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Leasehold: Ground Rent

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made a comparative assessment of the potential effect on the viability of the leasehold sector of (a) regulating ground rents and (b) removing the financial value of ground rents; and if he will make a statement.

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the provision of affordable homes of reducing the financial value of ground rents to zero.

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the level of housebuilding in each region of reducing the financial value of ground rents to zero.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Government wants to ensures that consumers only pay for services that they receive. We will introduce legislation so that, in the future, ground rents on newly established leases of houses and flats are set at a peppercorn. Costs incurred by landlords for overseeing and appointing a managing agent, or carrying out wider services, can be recovered through the service charge or a marginally higher sales price.Prior to introducing any final legislation in Parliament, the Government will undertake a regulatory impact assessment. As part of this evidence-based procedure, we will assess the economic, social, and environmental effects of the policy. This will include an assessment of the economic implications of setting ground rents to a peppercorn in terms of viability, affordability, and supply.

Leasehold

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which Ministers have had responsibility for helping residential leaseholders since 2010.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: I have been the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness since 9 January 2018 and am responsible for policy on residential leasehold. My Hon Friend Kit Malthouse MP has been the Minister of State for Housing since 9 July 2018 and holds responsibility for all building safety issues, including for ensuring that the cost of the replacement of unsafe cladding is not unfairly passed onto leaseholders.The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for leaseholders and freeholders and ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service.We will ban the unjustified use of leaseholds on new houses and we will bring forward legislation to do this at the earliest opportunity. Any new government funding scheme will contain the condition that the money cannot support the unjustified use of leasehold for new houses. We want to build more homes but not at any cost. This is an essential step to restore pride and dignity to homeowners everywhere.Previous Ministers with responsibility for helping residential leaseholders since 2010 are as follows:Rt Hon John Healey MPRt Hon Grant Shapps MPMark Prisk MPKris HopkinsRt Hon Brandon Lewis MPRt Hon Gavin BarwellAlok Sharma MPIn addition, the Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP previously had responsibility for ensuring that the cost of the replacement of unsafe cladding was not unfairly passed onto leaseholders.

Shops: Closures

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of high street store closures throughout the UK in 2018; and if he will make a statement.

Jake Berry: High streets are a crucial part of our communities. The Government is determined to see our high streets thriving, both now and in the future.However, we recognise that high streets face challenges, including the challenges faced by the retail sector. This is why we have announced that the Department will launch a call for evidence over the summer looking at the future of our high streets. We have established an expert panel of industry leaders to draw on their experience and expertise to diagnose the issues currently affecting our high streets, and advise on the best long-term approach to help their revival.The Government is committed to helping communities and high streets adapt. The Department for Business, Energy and the Industrial Strategy has established the sector-led Retail Sector Council so that retailers, large and small, can work effectively with each other and policy makers. The Council is chaired jointly by the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility and Richard Pennycook, the former chief executive of the Co-op.

Shops: Closures

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the cumulative effect on local economies of the closures of high street stores in (a) the North East and (b) the UK in 2018.

Jake Berry: High streets are a crucial part of our communities. The Government is determined to see our high streets thriving, both now and in the future. We want to see vibrant hubs where people live, shop, use services, and spend their leisure time. That is why on Monday 16 July, the Department announced the appointment of an expert panel of industry leaders to draw on their experience and expertise to diagnose the issues currently affecting our high streets, and advise on the best long-term approach to help their revival. Later this summer the Department will launch a call for evidence looking at the future of our high streets. While retail vacancy rates in the north east have experienced an increase over the past year, they have fallen from 17.5 per cent in December 2010 to 13.9 per cent in March 2018. In Jarrow town centre, the retail vacancy rate is currently 8 per cent. This is below the national average of 12.3 per cent. In 2010 the retail vacancy rate was 6.2 per cent. This increased to 13 per cent in January 2013 before falling to its current rate of 8 per cent in March 2018. In Great Britain as a whole, the retail vacancy rate has fallen from 14.5 per cent in December 2010 to 12.3 per cent in March 2018.

Housing: Construction

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what powers the Government would have under the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework to compel local councils to fulfil their objectively assessed housing need in areas where there is insufficient or inadequate infrastructure to support development.

Kit Malthouse: The draft National Planning Policy Framework set out that local authorities should, as a minimum, provide for objectively assessed needs for housing and other development in plans. These plans would be tested by an independent Planning Inspector at the plan examination.The council will also need to ensure there is sufficient infrastructure available to accommodate proposals bought forward in their plan, this will also be tested at examination to determine whether the plan is effective and can be delivered.The consultation on the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework closed on the 10 May and we are considering the comments received. We aim to publish the new version of the National Planning Policy Framework in the Summer.

Affordable Housing

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of linking the definition of affordability for new build homes to average local earnings.

Kit Malthouse: The current definition of affordable housing was recently consulted on as part of the revised draft National Planning Policy Framework. This is in line with the existing statutory definition of social housing as set out in legislation from the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Eligibility is determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices, and the Framework does require that plan making authorities should identify the size, type and tenure of homes required for those who require affordable housing. This is a matter to be determined at a local level based on relevant evidence which may include consideration of average local earnings. We intend to publish the final version of the revised Framework before summer recess.

Affordable Housing

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of devolving the means of setting affordable homes to local planning authorities.

Kit Malthouse: For affordable housing delivered through the planning system it is up to local authorities to set policies for affordable housing in plans, and determine planning applications accordingly.Proposals in the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework aim to support local authorities in creating clearer policy requirements in plans for developer contributions expected for affordable housing and infrastructure.

Help to Buy Scheme: Bolton

Sir David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many homes have been purchased using Help To Buy in the borough of Bolton; and how many of those homes were sold with a lease.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Department’s statistics on the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme are published and available at the following link.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-and-help-to-buy-newbuy-statistics-april-2013-to-31-december-2017

Owner Occupation

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the take-up of the right of new home buyers to request the building inspection records for the property, which was introduced on 1 April 2017.

Kit Malthouse: As part of the annual survey of performance against the Building Control Performance Standards, all building control bodies have been asked how many requests for inspection records have been made between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018. We expect to publish the results of the survey in the Building Control Performance Indicators 2017/18 report early 2019. The report will also be available on the Department's website.

Local Council Tax Support Schemes Independent Review

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the recommendations contained in the report from Mr Eric Ollerenshaw on Review of local council tax support schemes, published in March 2016, if he will commission research into the effect of local council tax support schemes on the budgets of other welfare programmes.

Rishi Sunak: Holding answer received on 17 July 2018



The Government has no plans to commission research on the effect of council tax support schemes on the budgets of other welfare programmes. The Government published a formal response to Eric Ollerenshaw's review of local council tax support schemes in January 2018.

Help to Buy Scheme

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the projected amount of (a) investments and (b) returns is for the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme in each of the next 10 years.

Kit Malthouse: The way the Help to Buy product and its repayment terms are structured means there is no fixed repayment schedule. The Department makes estimates to inform budgets within a Spending Review and to inform fiscal forecasts - these estimates are used for internal budget setting as to long term management of the programme.The Help to Buy Budgets for the remainder of the Spending Review Period are:   2018/192019/202020/21Help to Buy Expenditure£4,149m£4,598m£4,978mHelp to Buy Receipts (transferred to HMT)£500m£304.7mUnavailable – Outside SR period.

Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 125141 on Housing: Construction, if he will publish updated figures on the (a) number, (b) type and (c) tenure of homes under construction on public land since the publication of the Public Land for Housing programme 2015-20 annual report in February 2017.

James Brokenshire: Ordnance Survey has been commissioned to monitor the progress of homes built on land released through the 2011-15 and 2015-20 Public Land for Housing Programmes. This data will be released in due course.

Housing: Expenditure

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the (a) gross and (b) net spending on the housing functions of his Department was by programme in 2017-18.

James Brokenshire: This information can be found here: https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/communities-and-local-government/Correspondence/MHCLG-Main-Estimates-explanatory-memo-2018-19.pdf

Leasehold: Reform

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the timetable is for the Law Commission to publish the outcome of its work on leasehold reform.

James Brokenshire: The final report on enfranchisement is scheduled to be published in June 2019. On commonhold the Law Commission is scheduled to publish a consultation in October 2018 and a final report in June 2019. We expect the Law Commission to consult on the right to manage in November 2018 with a final report scheduled to be published in September 2019.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Housing

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2018 to Question 132273, on Ministry of Defence: Empty Property, what the average number of bedrooms is in those void properties.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2018 to Question 132273 on Ministry of Defence: Empty Property, how many of those empty properties are (a) Officers’ Families’ Quarters and (b) Servicemen’s Families’ Quarters.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2018 to Question 132273, on Ministry of Defence: Empty Property, what grade those empty properties are under (a) the 4 Tier Grading System and (b) the Combined Accommodation Assessment System.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Army

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what  the current strength is of Army Headquarters (a) Home Command and (b) Field Army.

Mark Lancaster: The Military strength of Headquarters Home Command was around 50 as of July 2018.The Military strength of Headquarters Field Army was around 120 as of July 2018.Notes:These figures are single service estimates and are not official statistics produced by Defence Statistics. For presentational purposes the figures have been rounded to improve the clarity of output and convey an appropriate level of precision to users.These figures include Full Time Trade Trained Regular Army, Gurkha's and Full Time Reserves Service that fill Regular Posts. The Full Time Trade Trained Strength (FTTTS) comprises Trained Regulars, Gurkhas and parts of the Full Time Reserves Service (FTRS) that fill Regular Posts.

Army

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current strength of the British Army's (a) 1st Division, (b) 3rd Division and (c) Force Troops Command.

Mark Lancaster: More time is required to provide the information requested. When it is available, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding he has allocated and how he has allocated it to the (a) Big White Wall and (b) Veterans' Gateway projects in each year since their inception; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Government will commit to funding the a) Big White Wall and (b) Veterans' Gateway throughout this Parliament.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Big White Wall (BWW), a digital support and recovery service, was established in 2007 not specifically for Service personnel and veterans but for the wider population suffering with mental health problems. The decision to contract for the BWW services was made following the publication in 2010 of Dr Andrew Murrison MD MP’s ‘Fighting Fit’ report. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) fund the Service personnel spaces on the online mental wellbeing website provided by the BWW, while the Department for Health and Social Care fund access for veterans and families of serving personnel. The MOD has contributed the following payments to the BWW in the financial years shown: Financial YearAmount (£) excluding VAT2012-1373,0002013-1475,6002014-15100,8002015-1691,1002016-1735,7452017-1826,250 The MOD payment to the BWW is expected to continue for the near future, dependent on whether serving personnel still require access to the BWW or if they have access to other support. The Government has funded the Veterans Gateway through the Covenant Fund, which ran a grants programme to award a single grant to a pilot project to create the Veterans Gateway. A £2 million grant was awarded to a consortium of charities led by The Royal British Legion. A further £200,000 was awarded to support a university-led evaluation of this pilot project and to support activities to improve the reach of the Veterans Gateway. The Covenant Fund provision for the Veterans Gateway was provided in order to help establish the Veterans Gateway and cover the start-up costs. This was made with the explicit understanding of all the charities involved that this grant would be a one-off payment. We strongly support the work of the Veterans Gateway; however, there are currently no plans for the MOD to provide regular funding.

Reserve Forces: Recruitment

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Capita has a register of all reservist recruitment units; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: Capita does hold a register of Army Reserve units. Where candidates initiate an application to join the Reserves through the National Recruitment Centre they are matched with a unit based on the candidates' location and declared role preference.While there are no Reservist units dedicated solely to recruitment, all Reserve units play a central role in attracting and nurturing candidates and new recruits. This includes supporting recruitment and engagement activity, initial face to face engagement with candidates, assistance with the application process and support with preparation for basic training. Regimental Sub-Unit Support Officers, professional, full-time personnel, are embedded within most sub-units to lead this activity.

Reserve Forces: Recruitment

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists were recruited in each month in each year since 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence does not publish monthly intake of trained and untrained reservists but does publish a rolling 12 month total every three months. This can be found on gov.uk.

Royal Military Police: Complaints

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints have been (a) received by the Armed Forces Ombudsman about the Royal Military Police (RMP) (b) made against the RMP, (c) investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IPCC) and (d) upheld by the IPCC in each year since 2015; when the most recent inspection of the RMP took place; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The case management system used by the Office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman does not specifically identify complaints that relate to the Royal Military Police (RMP). Information identifying those specific complaints could be provided only at disproportionate cost. There have been 89 complaints made to the RMP Professional Standards and Review Team since 1 January 2016. This figure encompasses all complaints made by anyone affected by an RMP investigation; this number may, or may not, include Service complaints. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has no jurisdiction over the Service Police. The most recent inspection of the RMP by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services took place in 2017. It was an inspection of the RMP's Investigations into Overseas Deaths and the Report was published on 29 March 2018.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Housing

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, further to the letter dated 15 May 2018 from the Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance to the chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee on Universal Credit and split payment to couples, what criteria her Department uses to determine the housing element of universal credit; and what the difference is in cash terms between the housing element and housing costs under a managed payment to a landlord.

Justin Tomlinson: Universal Credit claimants are entitled to support for housing costs as long as they can prove they have a commercial liability to pay rent for the accommodation that they live in and meet all other conditions of entitlement. Claimants will usually evidence their housing costs with a tenancy agreement, but we can consider other forms of evidence such as a letter from the landlord or a rent book. For private sector tenants, their support for housing costs will be the relevant Local Housing Allowance rate or the actual rent cost where this is lower than the relevant LHA rate. For social sector tenants, their support for housing costs will normally be their actual housing costs, including eligible service charges less any deductions. In cash terms there is no difference between the level of support for housing costs used to calculate the claimant’s monthly award, and those paid under a managed payment to a landlord so long as the level of Universal Credit award is greater than the value of the housing costs. However, the exact amount of a managed payment to a landlord is dependent on the level of award and any other deductions applied to the Universal Credit claim.

Department for Work and Pensions: Junior Ministers

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the housing responsibilities are of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance.

Justin Tomlinson: The Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance has responsibility for Housing Benefit (including Local Housing Allowance rates), the housing element of Universal Credit, Support for Mortgage Interest and Discretionary Housing Payments. He also works alongside the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government on supported housing and temporary accommodation. The minister’s portfolio is available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--89

Funerals: Costs

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the average cost of a funeral in each year since 2003.

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average Funeral Expenses Payment was in each year since 2003.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions does not produce estimates for the average cost of a funeral. The average Funeral Expenses Payment (FEP) made in each year is published in the Social Fund Annual Report. Table 1 below provides the average FEP made in each year since 2003/04. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1.  Table 1: Average FEP award, 2003/04 – 2017/18 YearAverage FEP award2003/04£1,0192004/05£1,0512005/06£1,0812006/07£1,1172007/08£1,1622008/09£1,1942009/10£1,2082010/11£1,2172011/12£1,2412012/13£1,2252013/14£1,3472014/15£1,3752015/16£1,4102016/17£1,4272017/18£1,461 Source: Social Fund Annual Reports 2003/04 – 2016/17, Social Fund Policy Budget and Management Information System Notes The figure for 2017/18 is drawn from the Social Fund Policy Budget and Management Information System as the Social Fund Annual Report 2017/18 is not yet published.The average award is the average payment net of returned payments (including appeals). This is calculated by taking the total value of payments in a given year (net of returned payments) and dividing by the total number of payments in a given year, as recorded in the Policy, Budget and Management Information System.These averages include awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initial refusal.

Children: Maintenance

Paul Masterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Child maintenance arrears and compliance strategy 2012-17, published in January 2013, whether she has plans to implement an annual review of arrears under the Child Maintenance Service.

Justin Tomlinson: Our response to the recent consultation on a new Child Maintenance Compliance and Arrears strategy was published on 12 July and replaces the previous strategy. It can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/child-maintenance-a-new-compliance-and-arrears-strategy The child maintenance client fund accounts are published on an annual basis and include details of the arrears position for both the Child Maintenance Service and the Child Support Agency. The latest client fund accounts can be found at www.gov.uk/government/collections/child-maintenance-client-funds-accounts

Children in Care: Disability

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support is available to meet the need of disabled children with looked- after status.

Sarah Newton: Under the Children Act 1989 Local Authorities are required to make provision for the accommodation and maintenance of all looked-after children, whether or not they are disabled. Financial support for disabled children is available through Child Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - a benefit for children under the age of 16 who, due to a disability or health condition, have mobility issues and/or require substantially more care, attention and supervision than children their age normally would. Child DLA comprises a Care component and a Mobility component; either or both can be claimed, depending on the child’s overall needs and age. In order to avoid duplication of provision, the DLA care component is not available to children being looked after in care homes where the Local Authority is meeting their accommodation and maintenance costs. The mobility component is still available however. Furthermore, if a looked after child is in a foster home the foster parents may be able to claim DLA (both components) on their behalf

State Retirement Pensions: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were in receipt of the state pension in (a) 2010 and (b) 2018 in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency.

Guy Opperman: At the end of May 2010 there were 19,906 people in receipt of State Pension in Linlithgow and East Falkirk. At the end of November 2017 (the latest data available) the number was 20,496.Between 2010 and 2017 the full amount of Basic State Pension rose by £1250 per annum in cash terms, which is £660 per annum more than if it had been increased in line with earnings.

Social Security Benefits: Reciprocal Arrangements

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 89 of the White Paper, The future relationship between the UK and the EU, Cm 9593, which benefits will be included in the proposals for coordination of welfare systems.

Alok Sharma: The negotiations on our future relationship with the EU are ongoing and the structure of any future UK-EU system of social security coordination is subject to these negotiations. As the White Paper notes, the UK will seek reciprocal arrangements on the future rules around some defined elements of social security coordination. This will be important for UK nationals who want to live, work or retire in the EU in the future, as part of our new arrangements. This could cover provisions for the uprating of state pensions, including export rules and accompanying aggregation principles for people who have contributed into multiple countries’ systems. It would also ensure workers only pay social security contributions in one state at a time. There should be reciprocal healthcare cover for state pensioners retiring to the EU or the UK, continued participation in the EHIC scheme and cooperation on planned medical treatment. This would be supported by any necessary administrative cooperation and data-sharing requirements

Jobcentre Plus: Training

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department issues guidance to work coaches on what support they should provide to claimants.

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the guidance her Department provides to work coaches.

Alok Sharma: Comprehensive guidance outlining the support we provide to claimants is readily accessible to all Work Coaches across the Jobcentre network. Work Coaches provide personalised back to work support including volunteering opportunities, skills support, work experience and local activity through the Flexible Support Fund. In addition information on local support services is available to staff via our District Provision Tool. This digital tool lists local and national provision and support delivered by Jobcentre Plus, Skills Funding Agency, Skills Development Scotland, Careers Wales, other providers, local authorities, and independent and volunteer organisations. Universal Credit guidance is published in the House of Commons Library and the Department is committed to refreshing the information on a regular basis.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Schools: Air Pollution

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2018 to Question 153431 on Schools: Air Pollution, when his Department last met officials of the (a) Department for Education and (b) Department for Transport to discuss air quality around schools; and if he will place the minutes of those meetings in the Library.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Ministers and officials across Government departments regularly discuss air pollution and how to reduce it.

Public Footpaths

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2018 to Question 123107 on Public Footpaths, what funding he plans to allocate to national trails for 2018-19; and how much funding his Department has allocated for 2018-19 to maintain the Pennine Way.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Under the national trails 'New Deal' funding formula, Natural England provides funds for the maintenance of national trails, including new England coast path stretches as they commence. In 2018/19 this amounts to £1.81 million.   For 2018/19, the Pennine Way will receive a total allocation of £199,253 which will be matched locally at a minimum ratio of 3:1 (national:local), so the total amount available will be a minimum of £265,671.

Water Charges

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the (a) potential effect of increased water rates on people with (i) Chrones and (ii) similar conditions who use more water than the average household and (b) requirement to put in place plans for those people in the event of such an increase; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is planning for an increase in water rates; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government-mandated tariff, WaterSure, is in place to support customers on low incomes who have unavoidably high water usage, due to either a qualifying medical condition or having three or more children under 19. Eligible customers must be on a water meter and in receipt of a means tested benefit, and they or someone living in the household must have the qualifying medical condition. This includes Crohn’s. All water companies must offer the tariff.   Water bills are rigorously safeguarded by Ofwat, the industry’s independent economic regulator, through five-yearly price reviews, which set an overall cap on the total amount that each water company may recover from their customers. Ofwat expects the average real water and sewerage bill to fall 5% from 2015 - 2020, and potentially up to 10% by 2025.   The Government’s 2017 strategic policy statement to Ofwat challenged the water industry to do more for vulnerable customers.

Agriculture: Chemicals

Colin Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what arrangements he has planned for agriculture chemicals registration in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Eustice: The EU Withdrawal Act 2018 converts the current EU legislation controlling pesticides used in agriculture into retained law in the UK. This approach will ensure a smooth transition in the event of no deal and provide certainty for consumers, workers and businesses by maintaining existing laws wherever practicable.   It will be necessary to make some minor corrections by statutory instrument but only where this is necessary so that the regulations can continue to work sensibly in a non-EU context, for example, replacing EU processes set out in the regulations with national processes.   We are also planning for the regulatory capacity we would need to implement the regulation of plant protection products in the UK, building on the existing capacity in the Health and Safety Executive’s Chemicals Regulation Directorate.

Seals: Animal Welfare

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will develop a strategy to phase out the shooting of seals in the UK.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Seal conservation is a devolved issue meaning separate legislation is in place in Scotland, where 85% of the UK seal population can be found.   We consider that current legislation in England strikes a balance between ensuring protection and welfare for seals with their management if they become problematic to netsmen. We have no plans to change the current legislation in place at this time.

Home Office

Home Office: Working Conditions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve the (a) physical and (b) mental wellbeing of staff employed in her Department.

Victoria Atkins: In July 2017 the Home Office launched their health and wellbeing strategy which is aligned with the Civil Service 5 strategic priorities to ;1. Provide visible leadership for health and wellbeing 2. Encourage an open dialogue leading to action on mental health 3. Promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle 4. Promote national wellbeing campaigns 5. Support people to stay at work or return to workThe strategy incorporates best practice approaches from: World Health Organisation, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Public Health England. The strategy adopts a pragmatic approach to implement actions that are evidence and risk based as research shows this makes the most significant difference in improving health and wellbeing.For Physical Health we follow the HSE guidelines on 5 steps to risk assessment:Identify the hazardsIdentify who might be harmedEvaluate the risksRecord our findingsRegularly review risk assessmentsOur procedures including a suite of training across the workforce, governance by publication of policies and guidance notes and assurance by way of a schedule of assurance visits and action plans for improvement.For Mental Health we provide:An Employee Assistance Programme with a 24/7 helpline for employees. Employees can talk to qualified counsellors and this includes talking about any mental health issues affecting relatives or friends‘Stress Management for Managers’ training and guidance - enabling our managers to identify and manage stress employees may experience in workplace. This is aligned to the ‘HSE Stress Management Standards’.Stress risk assessments - carried out to identify causes and implement agreed solutions and measures to eliminate or reduce the stressors in the workplace‘Building Organisational Resilience’ training for senior management teams to build their business unit’s resilience at times of changes, traumas and disturbancesTrained Mental Health First Aiders - support employees across the businessMental health awareness e learning - for all employees to accessSustaining Resilience at Work - a peer support network, which provides support and assistance to colleagues in times of challenge, stress and pressure.Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) assessors - For parts of our business were there may be a higher risk of traumatic incidents. After a traumatic incident trained TRiM assessors are deployed. They work with HR and line managers to ensure those who need additional immediate support get it. They monitor those whose initial reactions are not severe and provide advice to all employees.The ‘Big White Wall’ - An NHS approved system for employees to have a safe and confidential space to talk about issues they may be facing at work, and how it is affecting them.Employees and line managers are regularly advised to refer to external publications from expert organisations such as:o Mind – How to support staff who are experiencing a mental problemo Mental Health Foundation - Bespoke publications which cover a range of mental illnessesNumber 10 commissioned a review of mental health in the workplace. The subsequent report: Thriving at Work: the Stevenson/Farmer review of mental health and employers has made a number of recommendations for the civil service. The Home Office is working with the cross-government group to identify the improvements to be made across the civil service. The Home Office has set up a ‘Mental Health - Thriving at Work Project’ to ensure all the improvements are implemented.

Slavery

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Modern Slavery and Implementation Group last met; and what the date is  of its next planned meeting.

Victoria Atkins: The Modern Slavery Strategy and Implementation Group (MSSIG) which I Chair, brings together key stakeholders including civil society to support the implementation of the Government’s modern slavery strategy.The group meets quarterly. The last meeting took place on 24 October 2017. Unfortunately, the meeting scheduled for May 2018 was postponed. The next meeting will take place shortly after recess on 10 September.

Pakistan: Refugees

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, when an update is planed for her Department's country report for Pakistan.

Caroline Nokes: As explained in the response of 26 April 2018 [137113], the Home Office no longer publishes comprehensive country reports covering all aspects of human rights in that country. Instead, we produce more focussed topic-specific reports called Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) designed to address the most common and/or complex issues raised in protection claims in the UK.There are currently 12 CPINs on Pakistan, which are updated periodically and available on the Gov.Uk website. We have just updated the CPIN on Ahmadis and are in the process of updating the one on Christians and Christian Converts.

Immigrants: Caribbean

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what statute people of the Windrush generation were detained.

Caroline Nokes: Immigration detention decisions are made under powers in Schedules 2 and 3 to the Immigration Act 1971, section 62 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 or section 36 of the UK Borders Act 2007.All decisions to detain are taken on the basis of a careful consideration of the individual circumstances of the case in question. Published Home Office policy is clear that there is a presumption in favour of liberty. Where a person is detained for the purpose of removal there must be a realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable period of time.

Immigrants: Caribbean

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government’s compensation scheme for the Windrush generation will take into account missed (a) national insurance contributions, (b) pensions contributions and (c) life insurance or medical insurance premiums.

Caroline Nokes: The Government is clear that where the Windrush generation have suffered loss, they will be compensated and the Home Office is setting up a new scheme to deliver this, which will be overseen by an Independent Person.The compensation scheme for those of the Windrush generation that might have been affected is in the process of being established. The call for evidence for that scheme ended on 8 June and the Home Office are now preparing to launch the next stage of consultation, working with affected communities. The scheme will be set up as soon as possible after we have consulted on the design and scope of what should be included.

Police: Spit Guards

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his speech to the Police Federation Conference on 23 May 2018, what the Government's policy is on the use of spit hoods.

Mr Nick Hurd: The use of spit and bite guards, as with any other use of restraint or force, is an operational policing matter. However, the Home Secretary has been clear that police officers should have the equipment necessary to ensure they are protected, and we are currently working with the police to make sure this is the case.

Witnesses: British Nationals Abroad

Karen Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the support provided to British witnesses who are interviewed by foreign police forces in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: Foreign law enforcement officers have no powers in the UK and cannot interview witnesses here without the consent of the individual. If the witness does consent, the foreign law enforcement officer is subject to the law of the UK in the same way as any other foreign visitor, so any such interview must be conducted accordingly.An interview of a witness in the UK is, in the vast majority of cases requested via mutual legal assistance or joint investigation teams, but can be requested through police to police cooperation for voluntary witness interviews – though the latter is an unusual route which is not used very often. How an interview is conducted would be a matter for agreement between the UK police and foreign law enforcement officer but it is a routine requirement that UK police are present when anyone is interviewed by foreign police in the UK.

Crimes of Violence: Acids

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will undertake a review of the designation of specified chemicals under Schedule 1A of the Poisons Act 1972 in relation to the use of reportable substances in incidence of attacks containing corrosive substances.

Victoria Atkins: We keep Schedule 1A of the Poisons Act 1972 under continual review. We have moved sulphuric acid above a concentration of 15% from being a reportable to a regulated substance. We have no current plans to regulate any of the other corrosive substances which are reportable substances within Schedule 1A of the Poisons Act 1972.

Firearms: Crime

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the use of firearms to commit crimes in the UK.

Mr Nick Hurd: There was an 11% increase in police recorded offences involving firearms (excluding air weapons) in the year ending December 2017 compared with the previous year. This continues an upward trend which began in 2014. There is evidence that part, but not all, of the increase is due to specific improvements in the recording of firearms offences. Despite recent increases, offences are still 32% below a decade ago (year ending March 2007) and 43% lower than their peak in 2005/6.Our new Serious Violence Strategy explains how changes in the drugs market are driving the recent increase in serious violence, including gun crime, and sets out a major programme of work to tackle this issue.In respect of gun crime, we are actively strengthening controls on legally owned firearms to mitigate the risk of them falling into criminal hands. We have included measures in our Offensive Weapons Bill to ban certain high energy rifles, rapid firing rifles and bump stocks. Other measures include greater regulation of antique firearms, new offences on converting imitation firearms and selling defectively deactivated firearms, improving the controls on firearms dealers and establishing a new National Firearms Threat Centre to coordinate law enforcement activity to disrupt the supply of illegal firearms.

Immigration Controls: Heathrow Airport

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of  2 July 2018 to Question 157630 on UK Border Force: Heathrow Airport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK Border Force has the capacity deal with the forecast increase in the number of passengers in the summer.

Caroline Nokes: Border Force is taking a number of steps to ensure passengers are dealt with quickly, including through investment in technology and maximising available staff at the busiest times of the day.Border Force is committed to providing an excellent service. During the first quarter of 2018, over 95% of passengers seeking entry to the UK at Heathrow were dealt with within the service level agreements.We have also increased resources that are available to the busiest ports. For example, Border Force is putting in 200 additional staff to help process passengers at Heathrow this summer. They will remain at Heathrow throughout the busiest summer-period to help ensure Border Force delivers an excellent service while continuing to protect the security of the border.The experience for British and other EEA nationals is further enhanced where those passengers travel using biometric passports as they can use our ePassport gates

Immigration: EU Nationals

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 76(b) of the White Paper, The future relationship between the UK and the EU, Cm 9593, what the maximum duration of a visa-free visit will be for temporary business activity.

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 76(b) of the White Paper, The future relationship between the UK and the EU, Cm 9593, what activities will be included in the classification temporary business activity.

Caroline Nokes: The Government is considering a range of options for the future borders and immigration system, and will set out further details later this year. Free movement will end and we will control immigration in the national interest.The current Immigration Rules allow visitors to come to the UK for up to 6 months in the UK and list the permitted activities which a visitor may do.Recognising the depth of the UK-EU relationship, the UK will make a sovereign choice to seek reciprocal mobility arrangements with the EU covering visits for short-term business reasons, and specific allowed activities will be part of that discussion.

Visas: Reciprocal Arrangements

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with which countries the UK has a visa reciprocity agreement.

Caroline Nokes: The current list of countries whose citizens require a visa to come to the UK is at Appendix 2 to Appendix V of the Immigration Rules.The UK keeps its visa system under regular review. Decisions on changes are always taken considering a range of factors. These will vary globally, but often include security, compliance, returns, prosperity and can included reciprocal arrangements for UK nationals.

Asylum: Finance

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish his Department's targets for the processing of decisions on applications for asylum support.

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to introduce a transparent system for the monitoring of his Department's performance on the time taken to make decisions on applications for asylum support; and if he will publish the results of that performance.

Caroline Nokes: The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for those applying for asylum support. The Home Office closely monitors and shares information with stakeholders on the current suite of measures for processing support applications. However information on processing times is not recorded in a format suitable for publication and there are no plans to publish such statistics at this time.The Home Office is continuing to work with the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum to consider what further information could be made publicly available once the new IT system for asylum support casework has been fully implemented later this year.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to Answer of 28 June 2018 to Question 146800 on Cabinet Office: Procurement, how many of those contracts were advertised publicly prior to the appointment of personnel.

Oliver Dowden: As nominated workers, their roles were not publicly advertised and were pre identified due to their specialist knowledge. These contracts are for skills not readily available within the civil service like specialist technical and major infrastructure skills, which are time limited by nature.

Public Bodies: Disability

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the draft Public Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 with the Equality Act 2010 so that all Schedule 19 public authorities are defined as public bodies for the purposes of the regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Oliver Dowden: The main obligations on public sector bodies in the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (“the Regulations”) are to comply with the accessibility requirement, provided it does not impose a disproportionate burden on that body. This is aligned with the reasonable adjustment duties in the Equality Act 2010, which require a public authority or service-provider to make reasonable adjustments for persons with particular protected characteristics, including disability. The authorities subject to the Regulations set out in the Web Accessibility Directive are narrower than those subject to the Equality Act 2010, including the list of public authorities in Schedule 19. In particular, the duty to make reasonable adjustments in the Equality Act 2010 also applies to service-providers and those exercising public functions. The Regulations do not supersede any of the duties in the Equality Act 2010. Bodies who are subject to both the Regulations and the Equality Act will be required to meet their obligations under both. Government will be publishing guidance to support the implementation of the directive which will make clear that even if organisations or content are not subject to the Regulations, there may still be a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people under the Equality Act 2010 or the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Government Digital Service (GDS) have produced a first iteration of guidance that can be accessed here : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-requirements-for-public-sector-websites-and-apps. GDS are continuing to develop this guidance over the summer, working with end users and accessibility specialists.

Tunisia: Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office,  what the total project cost paid from the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) for the M&C Saachi PR campaign in Tunisia was; and what the role of that project is in fulfilling the aims of the CSSF to reduce conflict and promote security.

Chloe Smith: The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) is a cross government fund, which delivers and supports security, defence, peacekeeping, peace-building and stability activity around the world.This CSSF project provides technical assistance to support the Tunisian civil service to transparently communicate with citizens in order to support the development of effective, accountable institutions that promote good governance. Cabinet Office civil servants undertake implementation of this project. M&C Saatchi were competitively appointed to offer creative services to the Cabinet Office and do not work directly with the Tunisian government. The value of this sub-contract is up to £275,000.

Government Departments: Living Wage

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) Executive Agencies, (b) non-ministerial government departments and (c) non-departmental public bodies are accredited by the National Living Wage Foundation in relation to  paying the real living wage.

Oliver Dowden: The UK Living Wage and London Living Wage figures, produced by the Living Wage Foundation, form the basis of their accreditation scheme. These are not statutory figures, and are not therefore legally binding on employers. It is not the policy of the UK government that departments and agencies are required to apply these Living Wage Foundation rates, or to seek accreditation. Instead a statutory National Living Wage is applied for all employees over the age of 25, and National Minimum Wage rates for those under 25, through a policy produced by BEIS and audited and enforced by HMRC.Remuneration for all grades below the Senior Civil Service is delegated to individual departments, executive agencies and other organisations. While organisations must comply with the statutory minimum rates, it is for each one to determine pay above this level, and whether or not to match the rates set by the Living Wage Foundation.

National Security Communications Unit

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the purpose and remit are of the National Security Communications Team.

Mr David Lidington: The team’s remit is to fulfil the recommendations of the relevant strand of the National Security Capability Review. The review can be found online here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/705347/6.4391_CO_National-Security-Review_web.pdf

Treasury

Banks: Closures

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of bank branch closures in the North East; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: The decision to close a branch is a commercial issue for the management team of the bank. However, Government believes it is important the impact on communities must be understood, considered and mitigated where possible. The Government supports the industry’s Access to Banking Standard which commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing. It also helps customers to understand the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board. Government also considers it important that all customers, wherever they live and especially those who are vulnerable, can still access over the counter services. That is why we support the Post Office’s Banking Framework Agreement, which enables 99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ business customers to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. The Government is committed to ensuring that communities across the UK are fully aware of the important services that remain available to them at their local Post Office, even if their bank branch is closed. In March, in response to my request, the Post Office and UK Finance have committed to work together to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Fuels: Prices

Andy McDonald: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to help keep fuel prices for motorists low.

Robert Jenrick: To support British households and businesses, at Autumn Budget 2017, the government froze fuel duty for the eighth successive year. By April 2019, these freezes will have saved the average car driver a total of £850 compared to the pre-2010 escalator. Since 2011, the announced freezes to fuel duty have meant the Exchequer has not collected around £46 billion in revenues through to 2018-19, and a further £38 billion of revenues will be foregone over the forecast period as a result of these previously announced freezes.

Cars: Insurance

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department takes steps to provide tax relief to young first-time drivers for their first year of car insurance.

Mel Stride: All car insurance is subject to Insurance Premium Tax (IPT), which is a tax paid by insurers on all general insurance premiums As IPT is a tax paid by insurers, it is difficult to target a tax relief to benefit young drivers specifically. Tax reliefs of this kind also add complexity to the tax system and are likely to result in similar calls for reliefs on other forms of expenditure. However, the government does not apply VAT to any car insurance.

Midland Metropolitan Hospital: Repairs and Maintenance

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2018 to Question 160685 on Midland Metropolitan Hospital: Repairs and Maintenance, how many times (a) he (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) official in his Department have had meetings with counterparts in the Department for Health and Social Care on Midland Metropolitan Hospital since January 2018; and what the dates were of those meetings.

Elizabeth Truss: As set out in my Answer of 9 July 2018 to Question 160685, meetings and discussions about Midlands Metropolitan Hospital have been held between HMT and DHSC on a regular basis since January 2018 both at an official and ministerial level. As has been the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of such meetings.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Faisal Rashid: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the reductions in the level of investment in the UK car industry in the last 12 months.

Elizabeth Truss: The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics figures show that in 2017, overall manufacturing investment grew by 3.1% and car sales were 25% higher than in 2010. The automotive sector is a valuable part of the UK economy and the government has recently established the first automotive sector deal. Through mechanisms such as the Advanced Propulsion Centre, we have approved R&D projects worth £680 million with £322 million of Government investment.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Tourism: Forests and Nature Reserves

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to increase tourism to (a) nature reserves and (b) sites of ancient woodland.

Michael Ellis: VisitBritain and VisitEngland are responsible for marketing the UK and England as tourist destinations. As part of their remit, they manage the £40m Discover England Fund which supports the development of bookable tourism products across England, including the Make Great Memories in England’s National Parks and the Telling the Stories of England projects. There are several promotional campaigns which VisitBritain and VisitEngland manage, including the international I Travel For, and the domestic Join the World campaign. Both of these campaigns use the UK’s woodlands and countryside to promote the country to visitors. Additionally, National Parks like Sherwood Forest have featured many times in VisitBritain’s media stories, highlighting their natural beauty and many visitor attractions to the public.